Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Local cooking oil manufacturers have warned that the influx of smuggled oil into the Tanzanian market is undermining domestic production, shrinking market share for locally made brands and threatening thousands of jobs.

Industry players say illegally imported cooking oil, which often evades taxes, quality checks and regulatory inspections, is sold at lower prices and has distorted fair competition, making it increasingly difficult for compliant manufacturers to remain viable. The concerns were raised during a visit by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) commissioner general, Mr Yusuph Juma Mwenda, to several cooking oil factories in Dar es Salaam as part of intensified anti-smuggling operations.

Speaking during the visit, the director of administration at Azania Company, Mr Salehe Afif, said smuggled oil has severely reduced demand for locally produced brands, hurting sales and production levels. “Smuggled cooking oil is crippling local industries because we cannot compete with cheap products that do not pay taxes,” Mr Afif said, urging the TRA to sustain and strengthen enforcement efforts.

He noted that manufacturers employ large numbers of workers and depend on stable production and sales to meet operating costs, including wages–an effort increasingly undermined by illicit products. Mr Afif added that factories shoulder multiple costs, including salaries, utilities, environmental and safety compliance, transport and equipment maintenance, all of which raise production costs.

“These costs must be recognised when assessing the role of factories in the economy. We contribute significant tax revenues and support thousands of households through employment,” he said.

Separately, the head of human resources and administration at Wilmar Factory, Mr Gerald Lyimo, said the widespread availability of smuggled oil has weakened demand for locally manufactured products, putting pressure on operations and jobs. Prominent businessman and East Coast Oils and Fats (MO) factory owner Gulam Dewji also warned that smuggling destroys businesses and slows industrial growth, while commending the TRA for its ongoing efforts.

He called for collective responsibility, saying the fight against smuggling requires close cooperation between government authorities, manufacturers and the public. Responding, Mr Mwenda said the TRA is working with security and defence organs to curb smuggling and protect both local industries and consumers.

He announced plans to form a joint task force bringing together cooking oil manufacturers, importers and distributors to develop a long-term solution to the problem. “Every product imported into the country must undergo quality supervision in collaboration with relevant institutions.

Oil that enters illegally bypasses these controls and poses a risk to consumers’ health–this is food,” Mr Mwenda said. He said the authority would continue regular patrols and inspections at customs points to prevent smuggled goods from reaching the market, adding that legitimate oil imports are regulated through proper procedures to meet national demand.

Mr Mwenda reiterated that smuggling deprives the government of revenue, undermines fair competition and exposes consumers to health risks, urging members of the public to report suspected illicit goods as enforcement efforts are stepped up. .

Mbeya. More than Sh6 billion is set to be invested in improving water infrastructure in the Usangu Basin, Mbarali District, Mbeya Region, with five villages expected to benefit from the project.

The initiative is being implemented by the Rufiji Basin Water Board with funding from the government of Japan through the World Bank. The announcement was made yesterday by the director of the Rufiji Basin Water Board, Mr David Munyala, during a leadership review meeting held to assess the project’s progress.

The meeting focused on the management and improvement of nature-based practices undertaken by communities to protect the environment and water sources in the Usangu Basin, under the Rufiji Basin’s Nature-based solution (NBSUsangu) project. Mr Munyala said the project’s main objective is to conserve water resources for multiple uses, including domestic supply, agriculture and livestock, as well as drilling deep boreholes for educational institutions and residential areas.

“To safeguard our water resources from encroachment, we are transitioning from traditional watering practices to a modern infrastructure strategy. By constructing designated areas for livestock, we protect the environment while still supporting the needs of pastoralists” he said.

He added that implementation of the project has started in the current financial year and will run for three years in the Usangu Basin within Mbarali District, with five villages covered in the initial phase. In a related development, Mr Munyala said the Rufiji Basin makes a significant contribution to the national economy, noting that about 62 percent of tea production depends on the basin.

“The Rufiji Basin spans 11 regions and plays a major role in various economic sectors, including electricity generation, tourism and other activities,” he said. For his part, the coordinator of the Nature-Based Solutions for Community Environmental Management and Climate Change Adaptation Project (NBSUsangu), Mr David Mugiya, said the project is being implemented by the government of Tanzania with World Bank funding through the government of Japan.

He said that despite ongoing interventions, challenges remain, particularly the practice of carrying out economic activities within 60 metres of water sources. Mr Mugiya said the project has introduced measures to relocate farmers cultivating crops within the 60-metre buffer zone and compensate them through local councils to enable them to start alternative economic activities.

He said the support would help communities abandon harmful activities near water sources, noting that the Usangu Basin is critical to hydropower dams such as Kidatu, Mtera and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project. “About 15 percent of the water in these dams originates from the Usangu Basin.

To safeguard this resource, the Rufiji Basin Water Board has introduced the NBSUsangu project as a long-term solution to be implemented over three years,” he said. Mr Mugiya added that the project will also involve dredging rivers that have changed course in order to improve water flow into hydropower reservoirs.

“We see this as a unique area where protecting rivers and water sources by restoring and improving water flow will support government efforts following major investments made,” he said. He noted that the Usangu Basin is also facing challenges linked to climate change, with low annual rainfall ranging between 400 and 1,000 millimetres.

He said available data show that climate change impacts have contributed to droughts affecting the production of strategic crops, particularly rice. Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Administrative Secretary for Economy and Production, Mr Said Madito, said that alongside project implementation, there is a need to explore better ways of treating water, given the heavy use of agrochemicals by rice farmers in the area.

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Dar es Salaam is preparing to welcome the New Year in a bold and redefined style, as the city joins a groundbreaking regional celebration set to unite East Africa in a single, synchronised countdown. Traditionally, end-of-year festivities in the commercial capital have revolved around beach parties, nightclub revelry, fireworks displays and scattered countdown events across the city.

This year, however, revellers can expect a transformed experience with the introduction of Midnight East, a premium New Year’s Eve concept that will simultaneously connect Dar es Salaam with Nairobi, Kampala and Kigali. The initiative was officially unveiled on December 21, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro, during an exclusive launch attended by influencers, micro-influencers, members of the media, and key stakeholders from the creative and entertainment industries.

Designed around the themes of unity and shared celebration, Midnight East blends music, culture, nightlife and digital storytelling to deliver a single New Year’s Eve moment across four East African capitals. While each city will showcase its distinctive cultural energy, all will converge in a synchronised midnight countdown, symbolising the region’s growing cultural and creative interconnectedness.

Speaking at the launch, the organisers described Midnight East as a reimagining of how East Africa marks the transition into the New Year — shifting from isolated city-based events to a collective, cross-border celebration. “Our core idea is to celebrate our unity as a region, share our culture through music and entertainment, and welcome the New Year in style,” representatives from Play Media and Buzz Activate said.

Influencer and entertainment stakeholder Gabrielle Chams highlighted the role of creatives in shaping the future of the industry. “Our responsibility is to shape and share our culture through such platforms, connect with fellow creatives, and push the industry towards innovation, inclusivity and growth, which will ultimately expand its reach,” she said.

Midnight East is scheduled to take place on New Year’s Eve in Dar es Salaam alongside the other participating cities. The celebration will feature top DJs from across East Africa, reinforcing the spirit of regional collaboration and cultural unity as the clock strikes midnight.

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Dar es Salaam. Passenger uptake of the online bus fare payment system remains low, the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) has said, prompting renewed calls for travellers to use digital platforms to curb ticket touting and ensure fares paid are properly captured in the system.

Latra director general Habibu Suluo said that between December 1 and 20 this year, total fare collections amounted to Sh71 billion, of which nearly Sh8 billion was paid through online platforms, while about Sh63 billion was paid in cash. “This means only about 20 percent of passengers are buying tickets online, while the majority still pay in cash,” Dr Suluo said.

He encouraged passengers to adopt online ticket purchases to prevent overcharging and to guarantee accurate fare payment. “If you can send money to a relative through your phone, why not buy your ticket online? This ensures you pay the correct fare and are not overcharged,” he said.

Dr Suluo also called on bus owners to ensure payments are made through electronic systems so that revenues can be properly monitored by the regulator. He added that online ticketing captures passengers’ full details in the system, enhancing accountability and security in public transport operations.

Dr Suluo said Latra conducted a nationwide inspection exercise from December 8 to 22, during which 4,405 vehicles were inspected, most of them at the Mikese inspection station. The exercise, he said, was part of joint efforts with road safety stakeholders to support the government’s drive to reduce road accidents and ensure safe travel, particularly during the busy festive season.

“This is a critical period when all stakeholders must work together to reduce road accidents and ensure citizens travel safely to meet their loved ones,” he said. According to Dr Suluo, Latra has intensified inspections across the country to ensure the availability of safe and reliable transport services amid high travel demand.

Inspection centres have been established nationwide to verify compliance with licence conditions and assess the quality of services offered to the public. “From these inspections, we identified 349 offences.

The most common violations include failure to issue electronic tickets, non-compliance with licence conditions and some drivers operating without i-buttons,” he said. Despite the violations, Dr Suluo said the overall road safety situation remains relatively stable, with no major incidents reported so far.

He added that Latra continues to issue emergency permits where there are shortages of transport services, noting that 252 temporary permits have so far been issued by Latra offices across the country. Providing further data, Dr Suluo said that from the beginning of this month to date, 1,978,100 passengers have travelled using regulated bus services, equivalent to the number of tickets issued during the period.

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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s national football team, Taifa Stars, will tonight launch their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group C campaign with a daunting test against African heavyweights Nigeria, as the two sides meet at the Fes Stadium in Rabat.

The encounter is scheduled to kick off at 8:30pm East African Time, and it carries not only group-stage significance but also deep historical meaning for Tanzania, who are still searching for their first-ever victory over the Super Eagles in competitive football. This will be the second time the two nations meet in an Afcon group-stage match, with the first dating back 46 years.

On March 8, 1980, Nigeria edged Tanzania 31 in a Group A fixture played at the Lagos National Stadium in Surulere. Since then, the two sides have never crossed paths again at this stage of the continent’s premier football competition until now.

Despite the long gap, the rivalry has been rekindled intermittently through qualification campaigns for both Afcon and the FIFA World Cup, encounters that have largely favoured the West African giants. Overall, records show that Tanzania and Nigeria have met five times in all competitions, with Nigeria winning three matches, while two ended in draws.

Taifa Stars are therefore yet to register a victory against the Super Eagles, a statistic they are determined to overturn on Moroccan soil. The most recent meetings came during the 2017 Afcon qualification campaign.

The first leg, played on September 5, 2015, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, ended in a goalless draw that raised optimism among Tanzanian supporters. However, Nigeria secured a narrow 10 win in the return leg on September 3, 2016, on home ground to progress.

Earlier encounters also include the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Taifa Stars earned a credible 11 away draw in Nigeria on December 6, 1980, before suffering a 20 defeat in the return leg at the National Stadium, now known as Uhuru Stadium, in Dar es Salaam. As the two sides prepare to face off once again, the stakes could not be higher for Tanzania, who are eager to make a positive start in what has been widely described as a challenging Group C.

Speaking ahead of the match, Taifa Stars interim head coach Miguel Gamondi expressed confidence in his squad, insisting the players are mentally and physically ready for the challenge. “We know it will not be easy because Nigeria are among the strongest football nations on the continent,” said Gamondi.

“But I believe in my players. They understand what is at stake and they are ready to give everything for the country.

We have prepared well, taken all necessary precautions, and we will play with determination and discipline.” Team captain Mbwana Samatta echoed his coach’s sentiments, dismissing any notion of fear as Tanzania prepare to face a side boasting a rich Afcon pedigree.

“It is an open fact that we are facing tough opponents,” Samatta said. “But we are here to compete, not to make up numbers.

Every player knows what Tanzanians expect from us. We are playing for the national flag and we are ready to fight until the last drop.

” The Taifa Stars camp has been buoyed by high morale and a strong sense of unity, with players aware that a positive result against Nigeria would significantly boost their chances of progressing from the group. Group C action continues later tonight when Tunisia take on fellow East African representatives Uganda at the Stade Olympique de Rabat, with kick-off scheduled for 11:00pm East African Time.

As Afcon fever grips the continent, all eyes will be on Rabat, where Taifa Stars hope to defy history, stun Nigeria, and announce their arrival in the tournament with a statement performance. .

Dar es Salaam. As Africa grapples with a cascade of health shocks, from infectious disease outbreaks to climate-induced emergencies, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said governments must substantially increase domestic health financing, warning that the era of heavy reliance on external aid is rapidly fading.

The alarm came yesterday in Dar es Salaam, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between WHO’s Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC). At the event, WHO Africa Regional Director Mohamed Janabi delivered a sobering message: African countries must now “recalibrate and build stronger health budgets” to withstand current and future crises.

“Funding support to WHO has dropped by about 70 percent following the withdrawal of major donors, including the United States,” Prof Janabi said. “What remains is for countries to reorganise themselves and allocate larger portions of national budgets to health so that they can respond effectively when these challenges arise.

” Prof Janabi, who assumed office on July 1, 2025, described his first five months as among the most difficult in WHO Africa’s history. On his first day, the organisation was facing a deficit of $1.5 billion.

That financial shock forced sweeping reforms, including a painful reduction of the workforce. “I was responsible for more than 2,500 staff across 47 African member states,” he said.

“We had to separate at least 25 percent of the workforce. About 420 employees, highly skilled professionals with Master’s and PhDs, are set to lose their jobs.

It has and still is, a very difficult time.” Yet even as WHO struggled internally, Africa faced relentless external pressures.

Within weeks of his appointment, Ebola resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but contained within 90 days. Marburg virus disease in Ethiopia also is under control.

Cholera outbreaks are currently affecting at least 15 African countries, while polio persists in parts of West Africa. Climate-related disasters, including floods, droughts and even earthquakes, such as the recent one in Burundi, have further strained fragile health systems and displaced thousands.

“Before I could even recover, we were fighting Marburg in Ethiopia, cholera across the continent, Rift Valley fever in Senegal spilling into Mauritania and managing refugees in Burundi and Ethiopia,” Prof Janabi said. The call for increased health spending is deeply rooted in lessons learnt from Covid-19, which exposed Africa’s vulnerabilities and the current unpredictable donor-scenarios.

Many countries were caught off-guard, lacking intensive care capacity, surveillance systems and supply chains for essential medicines and vaccines. “We learnt the hard way during Covid-19,” Prof Janabi said.

“Africa imports about 99 percent of its vaccines and 85 percent of its medicines. That dependence left us exposed when global supply chains collapsed.

” Climate change is now compounding these risks. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are fuelling outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases, vector-borne illnesses and malnutrition, placing additional pressure on already stretched budgets.

At the same time, antimicrobial resistance, described by Prof Janabi as “a silent pandemic”, kills about one million people globally each year, further underscoring the need for resilient, well-financed health systems. Local manufacturing as a strategic response To reduce import dependency, WHO is strongly advocating for local pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing.

Under the new MoU, ECSA-HC has pledged to, among other things, support member states that are already laying the groundwork for domestic industries. Tanzania is among the countries positioning itself for this shift.

The government has outlined plans to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing through public-private partnerships, investment incentives and regulatory reforms, including strengthening the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA). Ongoing initiatives aim to attract investors into industrial parks dedicated to health products, building on lessons from Covid-19 when access to essential supplies became a matter of national security.

“We want to harmonise regulations so that a medicine registered in Kenya does not have to be registered again in Tanzania,” Prof Janabi said. “We are encouraging countries to work closely with investors and financial institutions to establish local industries.

” A timely partnership The WHOECSA-HC MoU comes at a critical moment. The agreement aligns with WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work (20252028) and focuses on primary healthcare, disease prevention, health workforce development, digital health transformation and emergency preparedness.

“This MoU is not only about cooperation between institutions,” Prof Janabi said, “but about delivering better health outcomes for Africans, especially the most vulnerable.” ECSA-HC Director-General Dr Ntuli Kapologwe echoed the sentiment, noting that the partnership would help countries “build resilient, equitable and people-centred health systems” through coordinated regional solutions.

“This MoU strengthens our long-standing collaboration with WHO AFRO and enhances our collective ability to support countries in building resilient, equitable and people-centred health systems,” he said. .

By Bryan Bwana Tanzania stands at a critical development crossroads. Blessed with rich natural resources, expansive agricultural and agroforestry potential, vast water surface and underground water bodies and abundant biodiversity, the nation has pursued economic growth through infrastructure expansion, mining, urbanisation and commercial agriculture.

Yet these pathways have carried a steep environmental and water cost, one that now threatens the resilience of ecosystems and the viability of Tanzania livelihoods. That very steep environmental and water cost now also threatens the equitable development goals of the nation and the region as outlined in Africa’s Agenda 2063. Historically, Tanzania has enjoyed relatively plentiful renewable freshwater resources.

It is estimated that Tanzania enjoys 96.27km of water resources per year, equivalent to about 2,266 m per person, above the global water stress threshold of 1,500m. However, rapid population growth, climate change and rising consumption have sharply eroded this buffer.

Projections suggest that by the end of this year (2025), Tanzania will cross into water stressed status as per capita renewable water resources fall below the 1,500m threshold. The uncoordinated planning of water infrastructure exacerbates the challenge.

Seasonal variability means even major rivers can shrink dramatically in dry months, while high rainfall regions can experience flooding that traditional infrastructure fails to manage. Tanzania’s mining sector, a key growth driver contributing an estimated 10.1 percent of GDP in 2024, has delivered many jobs and great exports but with significant environmental tradeoffs.

Small scale and large scale operations regularly clear vegetation, disrupt soil structures and release untreated runoff into rivers and aquifers. Mercury and cyanide used in gold processing, for example, have been found in local water bodies at levels far above safe limits, threatening both human health and aquatic life.

Deforestation linked to mining, charcoal production and commercial agriculture remains alarmingly high. Tanzania lost nearly 3.

2 million hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023, roughly a 12 percent decrease, with clear repercussions on watershed health, carbon storage and rainfall patterns. The loss of forest cover reduces soil stability and limits natural water infiltration, undermining aquifer recharge and increasing the severity of both droughts and floods.

In Zanzibar, (land with limited forest cover), rapid urban expansion has caused more money than 14.5 percent-22 percent loss in forested area over three decades, with consequential declines in groundwater recharge from 15.5 million m to 11.1 million m, testing the sustainability of urban water supplies. Waste management in Tanzania continues to lag behind the scale of urbanisation.

Although national figures on untreated domestic wastewater are incomplete, it is estimated that only about 16 percent of wastewater is safely treated, indicating widespread contamination risks for surface and groundwater. The untended discharge of industrial and urban waste degrades water quality, posing escalating public health and ecosystem hazards.

In urban regions, the inadequate collection and disposal of solid waste compounds water resource degradation. Waste often obstructs drainage systems, which contributes to flooding and the mixing of polluted water with community water supplies.

Uncoordinated development planning A recurring theme across these national environmental pressures is poorly coordinated planning. Land use decisions that favour short term economic gains, such as clearing forests for export crops or granting mining concessions without strict environmental safeguards, undermine long term sustainability.

Weak enforcement of environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs) and overlapping mandates among regulatory authorities further dilute accountability. Yet there are positive signs: Phase III of the Water Sector Development Programme (WSDP), aligned with the Tanzania Development Vision 2025, Five Year Development Plan III and Africa Agenda 2063, commits $6.46 billion to integrated water resources management, infrastructure expansion and governance reforms through 2026. Women and girls bear significant burdens from water scarcity, spending time collecting water at the expense of education and income generation.

Expanded access initiatives have improved services for millions, yet the ruralurban disparity remains stark. Immediate corrective steps To transition toward a sustainable development pathway, one that respects ecological limits, supports inclusive growth and aligns with AU Agenda 2063’s call for ‘environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies’ — Tanzania must take several urgent actions: 1.

Strengthen Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): Implementation of IWRM must accelerate beyond its current 54 percent adoption rate, embedding cross sectoral planning in national and regional development decisions. This would harmonise water, land and environmental policies to reduce conflict and over extraction.

2. Scale climate-smart agriculture and irrigation: Given agriculture’s dominant water use, the adoption of water efficient irrigation (such as drip and precision irrigation) and drought resilient cropping systems will alleviate pressure on freshwater resources while improving productivity.

3. Enforce stronger environmental regulations: Mining, construction, transportation and large agricultural projects must be subject to rigorous and continuous EISAs processes with full transparency, measurable mitigation plans and strict penalties for non-compliance.

4. Restore forests and catchments: Reforestation and protection of critical watersheds would improve aquifer recharge, stabilise soils and boost biodiversity.

Community based forestry initiatives should be linked with economic incentives. All sectors (public and private) should be mandated to carry out community reforestation and water catchment protection projects! 5.

Reform waste and pollution management: Investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure, recycling systems and municipal waste services must be prioritised. Publicprivate partnerships can expand capacity rapidly at scale.

6. Expand public awareness and governance transparency: Civil society, traditional leaders and local communities must be included in planning processes to ensure environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility.

Tanzania’s environmental and water stress challenges are not isolated ailments but interconnected reflections of development decisions made over decades. With strong political will, integrated planning and adherence to global sustainability standards — as envisioned in AU Agenda 2063 and SDG frameworks — Tanzania can turn the tide, transforming resource constraints into engines of resilient growth and shared prosperity.

Bryan Toshi Bwana is the Founding Trustee of Umoja Conservation Trust (UCT). www.

umojaconservation.org .

Dar es Salaam. The governments of Tanzania and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop, promote and protect traditional medicine within legal and digital frameworks, a move welcomed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Tanzania has also invited investors from across the globe to invest in the pharmaceutical sector, assuring them of a conducive business environment. Speaking in India following the signing, which was witnessed by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Tanzanian minister for Health, Mohammed Mchengerwa, said the agreement would provide legal protection for traditional medicine.

“We believe that traditional medicine, when legally safeguarded, strengthened by science, enabled by technology, and managed with a commercial outlook, can be a key pillar in building healthier societies globally,” he said. The minister noted that traditional medicine remains a critical component of primary healthcare in Tanzania, with approximately 60 percent of citizens using traditional healers, either alongside or prior to modern hospital care.

“This reality shows that scientific evidence is not optional but essential,” he emphasised. On safety and quality, Mr Mchengerwa expressed full support for WHO’s 20252034 Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine, particularly in building evidence on safety, efficacy, and quality.

Priority will be given to community-based, cost-effective research in collaboration with government research institutions, laboratories and universities. He highlighted Tanzania’s strong legal foundation for traditional medicine under the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act No.

23 of 2002, enforced by the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Council, and ongoing strengthening of institutions such as the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA), and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR). “The aim is to professionalise traditional medicine while aligning it with international standards of quality and safety,” he said, adding that the next step is integration into formal healthcare systems.

“Tanzania is committed to incorporating traditional medicine into primary healthcare to support universal health coverage. Services are already being provided in official hospitals, with 27 verified traditional medicine products used to treat both communicable and non-communicable diseases,” he said.

The government strategy also includes a national curriculum on traditional medicine, training for modern and traditional healthcare practitioners, and fostering collaboration between traditional healers and modern healthcare providers. Mr Mchengerwa said traditional medicine also serves as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth.

To date, 141 traditional medicine products are registered in Tanzania, over 90 per cent of which are produced by local small-scale entrepreneurs under the Health Sector Strategic Plan. He noted that Tanzania is promoting public-private partnerships to strengthen cultivation, processing, manufacturing, quality, market access, and exports of medicinal plants.

“Investment in technology transfer and innovation is welcome to ensure Tanzanian traditional medicine products meet international market standards,” he added, stressing that ethical practices, knowledge preservation, and fair benefit-sharing remain essential. During the meeting, Mr Mchengerwa held discussions with pharmaceutical investors to attract wide-ranging investment to Tanzania.

At the closing session, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of protecting intellectual property and traditional knowledge, while leveraging artificial intelligence and digital technologies to safeguard, validate, and preserve traditional medicine. He emphasised that technology should complement, not replace, traditional healers, enhancing and protecting their expertise.

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Arusha. The case file involving allegations against Anna Melami, accused of injuring her husband by severing his genitals, has been referred to the National Prosecutions Service (NPS) for further action.

Ms Melami is alleged to have attacked her husband, Mr Baraka Melami (40), on the night of November 19, 2025, while they were asleep at their home in Olevolosi Village, Kimnyaki Ward, Arumeru District. Mr Melami claims that at around 12:45 a.

m., while asleep with his wife, she began caressing him and touching his private parts before taking a knife, severing his genitals, and throwing them under the bed.

The NPS is responsible for determining whether a suspect should be charged and, if so, under which offence. Speaking to The Citizen’s sister newspaper Mwananchi on Monday, December 22, 2025, the Arusha Regional Police Commander, Mr Justine Masejo, said the case file had been submitted to the NPS for further steps, adding that the woman remains in police custody.

“At the moment, the information I have is that the case file has been taken to the NPS offices for further action,” said RPC Masejo. How the incident unfolded Mr Melami was initially admitted and treated at Selian Hospital in Arumeru District.

Recounting the incident, he said his wife began caressing him and touching his private parts before taking a knife, severing them, and throwing them under the bed. “She started caressing me at night and, when it became erect, she took a knife and cut it off completely.

She then covered me with a large blanket and began strangling me. I struggled with her until I managed to get outside while screaming.

People came to help and took me to the hospital,” he said. “There was no quarrel at all.

We run a small shop. We went to bed peacefully, and neither of us had any problem with the other.

I have only one child, and since we have one bed here and another at the shop, my wife often sleeps with the child there. When she wanted conjugal relations, she would come, and we would sleep here,” he added.

Furthermore, Mr Melami said that earlier on the day of the incident, they had dug a pit latrine at their home, continued with their shop business until evening, closed the shop, and then went to bed. “I had not removed my clothes because it was cold and I was tired, so I slept fully clothed.

When she came, she covered me with a blanket, opened the zip, and slightly pulled down my trousers. After the incident, as I was bleeding heavily, even when I tried to go outside, she continued to follow me and strangled me,” he said.

He further alleged that after the incident, his wife pretended to lose consciousness. After relatives and neighbours arrived, both were taken to the hospital.

He said that as she tried to strangle him, she told him she wanted to kill him and then kill herself by taking poison. “We had not quarrelled for almost three months.

After arriving at the hospital, doctors asked where the severed organ was. My relatives went back home to look for it, and when they brought it, the doctors said it had already gone cold and could not be reattached,” he said.

He also claimed that on that day, his wife had turned on the radio at a very loud volume, unlike on other days, and that after the incident, even when he tried to shout for help outside, his voice could not be heard. .

Shinyanga. Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde said the special industrial park established at the former Buzwagi gold mine site in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region, will become a major hub for supplying mining products and services across the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region.

At the park, more than 15 factories producing mining-related products are expected to be established, with over 30 investors having expressed interest in investing in various sectors. This move aims to stimulate the economy at the individual, regional, and national levels.

Three explosives factories are set to be constructed in the first phase to support both large-scale mines and small-scale miners, given the critical importance of such products to the sector. Mr Mavunde made these remarks on Monday, December 22, 2025, during his visit to inspect the Buzwagi industrial park area in Kahama District.

He said the government’s objective is to ensure that money currently spent on importing mining products and services remains within the country and directly benefits Tanzanians, while also attracting more foreign investors. The minister said more than Sh5.1 trillion is spent annually on importing mining products and services from abroad, an amount that exceeds the taxes collected from the mining sector.

“In the mining sector, our goal is to make Kahama a hub for the provision of mining services and products south of the Sahara, not only for Tanzania. Kahama will undergo economic transformation, together with the nation as a whole,” he said, adding: “A large percentage of mines in Tanzania have for years been importing many products and services from outside the country.

There is a huge opportunity here. Annual procurement of services for all mines in Tanzania exceeds Sh5.1 trillion, more than the revenue we collect in taxes from these mines.

” He noted that the Buzwagi mine had been a catalyst for Kahama’s development and economic growth, and that its closure could have destabilised the district’s revenue base. However, the establishment of the industrial park is expected to benefit residents through employment opportunities and expanded economic activities.

For more than 16 years, the Kahama Municipal Council relied on revenue from the Buzwagi gold mine, which is currently in its closure phase, with the area now being repurposed into a special industrial park. The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) Director General, Mr Gilead Teri, said the investment has begun to attract major local and foreign companies, some of which have already signed agreements to commence production activities within the area, where licensing procedures are being properly managed.

He said: “Any investor who applies to an investment plot at the Buzwagi Industrial Park will be issued with a licence within 24 hours. The aim is to make Buzwagi a business hub due to its proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda.

” Shinyanga Regional Commissioner, Ms Mboni Mhita, said the Buzwagi area, which covers 1,333 hectares, already has good infrastructure, reliable electricity supply, and sufficient water sources, making it a major opportunity for Tanzanians to invest. “We are fully prepared to ensure this industrial park succeeds and becomes a model.

We are putting in place an enabling environment, infrastructure is ready, and we continue to encourage citizens to come and invest here, giving them priority,” she said. .